ADJECTIVE CLAUSES

In our previous lessons, we studied the noun phrases and analysed the different categories that can
appear before or after the noun, giving extra information about the noun. And among the post
modifiers, we mentioned the relative clauses. So this lesson will help us understand and use these
clauses more accurately.
Adjective clauses and relative clauses are the same thing. The difference is that relative clauses
speak about how they are formed (they are introduced by a relative pronoun or adverb) and adjective
clauses are named because of their function in a noun phrase.
We know that relative clauses are post modifiers of a noun. This is the ONLY function that they
can have. They ALWAYS appear after a noun and they ALWAYS speak about that noun that
precedes them. If they always speak about a noun because they modify it, they take the name of
adjective clauses as adjectives are THE modifiers of a noun by definition. Necessarily then, these
clauses always speaking about a noun are ADJECTIVE CLAUSES. And that is the name we are going
to call them.
►WHAT ARE ADJECTIVE CLAUSES?
An adjective clause is a clause (= subject + verb within a sentence) that gives information of a noun
so as to define it or simply make a comment with additional information about the noun. They always
come after the noun as post modifiers.
►HOW ARE THEY FORMED?
Adjective clauses are introduced by relative pronouns (who, which, that) relative adjective (whose)
or relative adverbs (where, when, why). As they are clauses, they need a finite verb obligatorily and
the subject is sometimes the relative pronoun and sometimes there is another noun/pronoun
functioning as such.
►HOW DO WE IDENTIFY AN ADJECTIVE CLAUSE?
Once we have noticed that there is a clause in a long sentence (because there are minimum two finite
verbs) we should check for the relative and for the noun (previous to the relative) about which the
clause is speaking about.

CAREFUL:
that, which, who, when, where, why can appear in sentences IN A DIFFERENT FUNCTION. This
means that not every time they appear we have an adjective clause. So it is essential to check for the
noun preceding the clause and to check that the information is about that noun.

►WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF ADJECTIVE CLAUSES? WHAT DO WE EXPRESS WITH

THEM?
There are two possible uses of the adjective clauses:

① They help to give information to define or identify the noun we are speaking about. In that case,
the adjective clause never takes commas after the noun:
This is the book that / which I use in my Biology lessons.
It is not any book. It is specifically for my Biology lessons
When the adjective clause gives essential information to identify the noun, we classify them as
defining or restrictive adjective clauses.

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② However, we sometimes use adjective clauses to add information about the noun, but this
information is not intended to be necessary to identify the person or the object. In this case, the
adjective clause goes between commas and it is classified as non-defining or unrestrictive
adjective clause.
My Biology book, which has very good photos, is really useful for my lessons.
The information about the photos is just a comment that I want to make but does not help to identify
the book.
See how important commas may be when using the language.
My brother who lives in USA is coming to visit us (I have more than one brother so I am trying
to identify which one is coming: the one who lives in USA)
My brother, who lives in USA, is coming to visit us. (I have only one brother. He lives in USA,
but that is simply additional information)

HOW DO WE USE ADJECTIVE CLAUSES WITH RELATIVE PRONOUNS WHO, WHICH, THAT?

Adjective clauses are used when we want to connect two ideas and these two ideas have an object or
a person (noun / pronoun) in common.
I have a black dog. My dog chases rats.
My brother works with my father. My brother (he) likes cars
I love my friend Lucy. I call her every week.
When we have found the “repetition” we can use an adjective clause:
1. We replace the repetition with the corresponding relative: who replaces a person, which
replaces an object or a place, and that can replace both possibilities.

I have a black dog. My dog chases rats

WHICH

My brother works with my father. My brother likes cars

WHO
I love my friend Lucy. I call her every week
WHO
2. The relative should always be placed at the beginning of the idea. It doesn’t matter where
the noun I am replacing is in the original idea.
This idea only affects our last example:

I love my friend Lucy. I call her every week

WHO I call every week

3. Finally, and probably the most important step, I must place the adjective clause immediately
after the noun I am speaking about and I have replaced. This is the step that students usually

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 forget but we know that an adjective clause is a post modifier of a noun so it is essential to
place if after the noun. This is very easy in these two examples:
I have a black dog which chases rats.
I love my friend Lucy, who I call every week.
ATTENTION: See what happens is if the adjective clause is not placed correctly:
*My brother works with my father who likes cars. X
Is it the same meaning as our original example. NO. Can you see the difference? It is not my
father who likes cars, but my brother. So the correct version is:
My brother, who likes cars, works with my father.
CAREFUL:
Sometimes, the relative pronouns can be omitted but still we can identify the adjective clause. The
omission is only possible when after the relative pronoun we have another subject + verb. If we only
have a verb, the relative cannot be omitted.
●I bought the sweater which you recommended me

which subject verb Here, which can be omitted.

I bought the sweater you recommended me. ✓
● I bought the sweater which cost Little money

which verb Here, which can’t be omitted.

HOW DO WE USE THE RELATIVE ADVERBS WHERE, WHEN AND WHY?

So far, we have only looked at examples with relative pronouns. What is the difference with relative
adverbs? Relative adverbs replace the adverbial, which can be only one word or a phrase, most
frequently a prepositional phrase. So the repeated information in one of the ideas is part of the
adverbial of place (to use where), or of time (to use when).
Look at that school. I studied in that school (there)
I met him in spring. Most people fall in love in spring.
We should apply here the same steps as we use with relative pronouns:
1. Replace the adverbial of place with WHERE and the adverbial of time with WHEN.

Look at that school. I studied in that school (there)

WHERE
I met him in spring. Most people fall in love in spring.
WHEN
2. The relative should always be at the beginning of the idea
3. The adjective clause goes immediately after the noun which it is modifying.
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 Look at that school where I studied.
I met him in spring when most people fall in love.

WHY As a relative adverb, why is only used after the noun REASON.
Fear is the reason why he didn’t do anything.

HOW DO WE USE THE RELATIVE ADJECTIVE WHOSE?

Whose is a relative adjective because it must always be followed by a noun. It replaces the
possessive adjective or the noun in the genitive case but it doesn’t replace the noun. That is why the
noun must follow it.
Therefore, to use the relative adjective, the repeated information must be a noun in one idea and one
possession (belonging to that noun) in the other.
I was talking to a man. This man’s (his) son works for the government.
As the repetition is only the man the word son can not disappear
I was talking to a man. This man’s (his) son works for the government.
WHOSE
I was talking to a man whose son works for the government.

SPECIAL CASES

ADJECTIVE CLAUSES THAT MODIFY A SENTENCE

Students are required to wear uniforms, which I completely agree with.
In this example, the adjective clause is not modifying uniforms because based on the meaning, we
understand that I agree with the complete idea.
To use an adjective clause in this way, you must always put a comma before the clause and the
relative that you can use is only WHICH.

ADJECTIVES CLAUSES AFTER QUANTIFIERS

I have many friends, many of whose wives work at home.
I have many friends, all of whom can speak a foreign language.
I couldn’t decide between two universities, both of which were highly recognized.
When an adjective clause follows an expression of quantity as both, many, much, some, etc, the
clause modifies all or a portion (depending on the quantifier) of the noun it modifies. In our examples
about friends, in the first example; “many of whose wives” modifies a big number but not all as in the
second one. In these cases WHOM is the form of who we need to use after prepositions.

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ACTIVITIES

 There are many activities to complete from the book Grammar in Context . Complete the activities
in chapter 34. Remember you have the key.

1. Read the following text and identify the 14 adjective clauses in the paragraphs.

Remember to check if there is a noun preceding the clause because not all of the clauses are
adjective clauses.

2. Complete the encyclopaedia entry about the history of the guitar by adding a relative.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE GUITAR

Guitar-like instruments have existed since ancient times but the first written mention is from the 14th
century. The earliest form of the instrument, …………… had three pairs of strings plus one single
string, probably originated in Spain…………., by the 16th century, it was popular among the lower
clases. They could not afford the viñuela, an instrument………….. was popular with upper classes.

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The guitar in its modern form had developed by the mid-18th century, ………… the fifth and sixth
strings were added. By this time, too, all the strings had become single rather than pairs. The guitar
makers ……….. worked in the 19th century broadened the body and changed the internal structure.
The old tuning pegs, ……………. were wooden, were replaced by modern machine heads.
The guitar was once regarded as a simple instrument …….. could not play classical music, but in the
early 19th century, Fernado Sor started a quest …………. still continues today, to raise the guitar to
the highest musical level.
Sor, ………………. was the most prolific composer for the guitar as a “concert” instrument, paved the
way for the great Spanish player Andres Segovia, …………… was to bring the guitar the popularity
and respect ………….. it now enjoys.

Which of the relative you have added in the article could be omitted?

3. Make one sentence from the ideas given, beginning as shown. Make any necessary
changes. Omit any unnecessary relative pronoun.

1. We eventually caught a train. It was one that stops at every station.

The train we eventually caught was one that stops at every station.

2. Carol slammed the door behind her. Her father had given her a car as a present.
She drove off in it.
After Carol…………

3. At the end of the street was a building. The Street was crowded with shoppers. Tom had
not noticed the building before.
At the end of the street….

4. Some people have just moved in next door. They have the same surname as some
other people. Those other people have just moved out.
The people who have just moved in next door….

5. I noticed that the door was open. I decided to go in. This turned out to be a mistake.
When I noticed that….

6. Everyone expects the Popular Party candidate, Flora Benstead, to win the election. She
has announced that she will cut income tax by 10% if elected.
Flora Benstead, …………..

7. I listened to George patiently until he started insulting me. At that point, I told him
a few home truths. He didn’t like it.
I listened to George patiently until he started insulting me, ………..

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 8. Pauline asked me a question. I had no reply to it.
Pauline asked me …………..

9. He rushed out of the room, He was shouting at the top of his voice. This was typical.
When he………………

4. This is a description of a high school teacher. Combine the sentences in each set into a
single clear sentence using pre or post modifiers. Sentences that can be turned into
adjective clauses are in italics.

a) Mr. William Herring is the jolliest man I know.

Mr William Herring has been affectionately dubbed “Mr. Bill” by his music students.

b) His outward features are often hidden behind a grand piano.

His outward features reflect the character within.
The character within is delightful

c) His hair is red.

His hair is frizzy.
His hair is like Orphan Annie’s.

d) His head is round.

His head is fat.

e) He has small eyes.

His eyes are dark
His eyes are hámster-like
His eyes peer inquisitively from behind metal-rimmed glasses.

f) His mouth is small.

His mouth is always formed into a grin
The grin is friendly.

g) His neck is thick.

His neck connects this funny head to a torso.
From this torso stretch two fat arms with plump hands and fingers.

h) His fingers are shaped like hot dogs

On one of these fingers is a gold ring.
The ring is diamond-studded
The glim of this ring matches the brilliance of Mr. Bill’s smile

i) His Santa Claus belly hangs over baggy trousers.

These are the sort of trousers that went out with leisure and platform shoes.

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j) Mr. Bill’s shoes, however, are invisible beneath his trousers.
Yet his walk is distinctinve.
In fact he seems to roll rather than walk.

5. Read about American guitarist Ry Cooder and add the extra information at appropriate
places in the article. The extra information is given in order. Add commas wherever they
are needed.

Ry Cooder is a musician especially well known for his slide guitar work. He first attracted pubic
attention in the 1960’s. In recent years, Cooder has composed many film soundtracks. Cooder has
also played an important role in the increased appreciation of traditional Cuban music, especially in
connection with the Buena Vista Social Club recording. The recording was made by Cuban musicians.
In 1999, a documentary film was made about the musicians.

1. Ry Cooder was born on March 15th, 1947 in Los Angeles

2. In the 1960’s, he played with Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band.
3. Cooder has worked mainly as a studio musician.
4. His best known film soundtrack is perhaps the one he wrote for Paris, Texas.
5. Ry Cooder was the producer of the Buena Vista Social Club recording.
6. The Buena Vista Social Club recording was a worldwide hit.
7. Some of the Buena Vista musicians had not played for many years.
8. The documentary was directed by Wim Wenders.
The documentary fil was nominated for an Academy Award.